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Atem lay in the fields of Aaru with his back to the earth and his face to the sun. The reeds flew around him in a light breeze and the sun shone high in the sky. A cloud could not be seen for miles and to most this was like any other day, filled with an unwavering happiness and content. Atem could not join in with those whose hearts were full and livelihood gratified. His journey that constantly led him back and forth between his world and hers was starting to take a toll on his being. He felt weaker, not in a physical sense but mentally. The constant hello's and goodbyes was creating a heavy tax on the young King. He had yet to meet with Yugi and the others, but with Kaiba now aware of his interactions with Anzu he knew it would not be long until they would all be united.
Sighing, he stood up stretching his arms to the tall skies. His body wore his traditional garbs of linen and gold. The eye of Anubis shined bright on his forehead.
He started to make his way back to the palace when he noticed the flapping of wings in the distance. He could see the God of Osiris who ruled the realm cutting his way through the blue skies. Atem watched in confusion as he had not seen Osiris in this domain since his arrival. He watched the dragon move about until he was only a speck to be seen in the sky. Atem looked around carefully before making his way back to his palace.
"Pharaoh Atem!" A voice spoke as soon as he entered the limestone castle grounds. Atem immediately smiled upon seeing Mana.
"Hello Mana." He stated.
"Quickly Mahado must speak with you. It is urgent!" She motioned him to follow her and immediately his smile turned into a frown. Mahado was not one to have Mana wound up in a frantic call. He much preferred her in a more subdued state although more often than not this was not the case.
They walked through the many long halls of the palace. All the walls held various drawings of fierce warriors fighting in battle. Ancient Egyptian was written underneath the images in calligraphic handwriting. For those that bothered to look and observe it was a fantastic sight to behold.
After some minutes they reached a long wooden door that led into the library. Mana quickly pushed her way in and they both entered the massive space. All along the walls were shelves filled with many scrolls that held myths, spells and much of their history. Much of Atem's short reign as Pharaoh was written in these scrolls and he took great pride in reading of the sacrifices he had made for his people. Although the tale was labeled a tragedy, Atem did not see it this way.
Mahado sat at one of the many desks littering the first floor. A long spiraled wooden staircase led to a second level of the room that held even more scrolls, but much of which were off limits to those who lived in the castle.
"My King." Mahado stood and bowed at Atem who could not suppress the eye roll that came from the formality.
"I have said time and again you needn't address me as such with every encounter we hold."
Mahado nodded but Atem knew it was a lost cause.
"What brings me here?" He asked pointing at Mana who has since made herself busy by pushing some scrolls around Mahado's littered desk.
"I think I may have found the cause of why Miss Mazaki is being targeted." He declared.
Atem immediately perked up. "Go on."
"I have been going through the old scrolls. That of which have been kept since before your reign and have found something rather peculiar. There was a child who lived in the palace along with you when you were just a child."
Atem listened in confusion as he had no recollection of said child, or rather of any that may have stuck out to him.
"She was the daughter of a nobleman and your father had given her family refuge on palace grounds as he claimed he was being hunted by something. From what I read his plea was stark and he was truly terrified for the well-being of his wife and only daughter. They felt safe living in the palace and it was said you often played with her as children do."
Mahado looked at Atem inquiringly but Atem still could not recall such events.
He continued on.
"She was beautiful as the scrolls took note of how different she looked from our people. The nobleman noted her mother did not come from Kemet and so she resembled her the most. But her eyes, those were of her father and as blue as the Nile.
As the years went by, the comforting hand of a friend turned into that of a lover. You had fallen in love with the girl and she with you. A wedding was scheduled on the date of your eighteenth birthday."
Atem looked up shocked. His memories held nothing of this woman whom he seemed to love. His existence had been a lonely one and if he had not been forced to erase his memory from his people, he would have awaited the one he would one day call wife. Mahado could sense the confusion ensuing his King but continued on with the tale.
"Her father opposed of the marriage through and through. He grew terrified of the position his daughter would be put in. Whatever was after him would have an easier chance of reaching his kin and he tried many times to convince her you were not the one for her. He even went as far as to get her to fall for another nobleman's son with a love potion, only to be caught by you and thrown into the dungeons. His daughter begged for her father's freedom insisting it was all out of love for her, to protect her. You loved her so that you obliged to her request and allowed her father to go free. In his madness, on the eve you were to marry, her father entered his daughters chambers only to stab her in the heart. He then went back to his own room and did the same of his wife and of himself. He left a single note behind with the words, now we are free."
Silence encircled the vast area as Mahado and Mana watched their King. They were not sure of his reaction.
"I do not remember any of these events occurring Mahado." Atem finally stated. His face looked hard and Mahado noted his hand with squeezing the end of the table rather tightly.
"How do I know there is truth to any of it? That it is not just a tale? How could such horrid events occur without my knowledge?"
Mahado looked down and it was the first time Atem could see the sadness inflicting his normally stoic face.
"I have spoken with your father before coming to you, he said it is true. There existed this family and their tragic tale was left buried in this library. He said you were engulfed in such grief he had one of his magicians wipe your memory. To forget her. To forget your story."
Atem looked up stunned. He had lived most of his life not knowing the truth of his story only to find out the completed piece was in fact still incomplete.
Anger immediately entered him. How could his father take away something that could mean everything to him? Did his father not understand how alone he felt? In a room full of people he loved, he still felt half of a whole.
"If she has died, why is she not here?" Atem asked Mahado immediately.
"I have thought of some theories for that, one is that she may not have been given a proper burial but that proved wrong as your father said her entire family was given the proper ritual. When I learned of this I delved into some old spell books and saw there is an option of reincarnation. I assume your beloved may have chosen this path in belief she may be reunited with you once again."
Atem's features softened notably.
"So she is not here." He stated bluntly.
"No." This time it was Mana that spoke. She walked to Atem and took his hand in hers. Atem could see Mahado eyeing the platonic touch and did his best to hide his snide smirk.
"Mahado has spoken of the history of this tragedy but the reason we bring you here is because we believe Anzu Mazaki is the reincarnation of your love. That her soul and your love have merged but she does not know yet who she is."
Mana squeezed Atem's hand gently as she spoke. Atem looked back and forth between his two friends. How could this be possible?
And yet a part of him knew their tale to be true and that meant Anzu was in grave danger. Whatever wanted to hurt her had finally found her and Atem knew he had to do everything in his power to save her.
Anzu had grown strong enough to exit her room. She wandered the vast halls of Seto's mansion pausing every now and then to look at an artifact or intricate painting he had collected over the years. Some she had remembered from her stay while others were completely new to her.
She now stood in front of a painting that was one she had always admired from afar. It was a landscape of a field. Surrounding the field were shrubs, trees and vegetation of all sorts. Although the plants were green, the sky was dark, void of any sun. When she had first seen the painting she thought it was a gloomy one but now she believed it served with wistful intentions. Even beauty can be found in the darkest of corners.
A hand snaked its way around her hip and Anzu turned around startled. Seto watched her curiously and gave her a small smile. She turned back around still slightly annoyed from their tiff.
"You are still angry?" He asked confused.
She remained quiet.
He hummed quietly to himself as a reply to her response. She couldn't deny the comfort she felt from the gentle sound as he had done this many times after their love making.
He slowly leaned his head down to her neck as Anzu continued observing the scene before her. She almost felt transported into the painting itself as Seto started to gently lay kisses along her shoulder. The short night gown she had changed into allowed Seto more access than the bulky pajamas she had laid in before. She was almost grateful she had left some of her clothing in his home as the pajama set was starting to smell.
His actions continued and Anzu couldn't help but move her head to the side to allow more access. She could feel Seto's smile as he touched her soft skin. With each kiss he bestowed she felt her body move backwards into him. It was an unconscious move, something she did not even know she did.
His arms started to slowly run up and down her own, creating a soothing effect. Her eyes started to close as she felt herself give in deeper and deeper to Seto.
Suddenly she felt something overcome her, a hunger and she immediately pushed Seto back and turned around to face him. He looked a bit surprised and it was when she gave him a devilish smile did he understand her intentions.
Instantly her lips were on top of his and they hungrily kissed each other with a fervor that could rival that of stars dying and moons eclipsing. She sunk herself deep within him not sure where she started and he ended. She could feel him pushing at the straps of her thin night gown to give way to the supple skin that lay beneath.
"Not here." She breathlessly whispered into his ear.
Seto nodded understanding and grabbed Anzu's hand quickly moving to his bedroom. He heard the ringing of Anzu's laugh behind him which caused a large smile to concur on his face. This was truly a rare sight for Seto Kaiba, a hard man who rarely if ever smiled. But she could change that- she did change that.
Promptly Seto closed and locked the door behind him as he entered the dark room. Anzu lay on the bed waiting for him, her eyes dark with need.
He walked to her slowly and took his shirt off never breaking eye contact with her. As he drew nearer Anzu could see the bulging muscles portrayed all across his torso. She slowly ran her fingers across his chest and noticed the goosebumps that followed in her wake.
She smiled and he lowered himself onto her kissing her neck once more. Anzu grabbed onto his hair gently playing with the strands. She could feel the heat start to build in her toes as Seto continued his excursions. He kissed her collarbone and led his nose up to her chin where he connected his lips with hers once more. He bit her lip earning a small moan from Anzu before entering his tongue. Together they kissed passionately and without breakage. Both breaths hot on one another and all they could do was create a pattern of skin on skin, lips on lips, body on body. It was a sea of skin once Seto slid Anzu's slip off. He broke the kiss just to look down at her, to take in the beauty of the woman that lay before.
"You are so beautiful." He whispered to what seemed like himself.
Anzu blushed. Even from the countless times he had said it, right now it felt like it was the first time and in that moment her heart beat for Seto and only Seto.
She grabbed his neck and pushed him down to her, kissing him. Her hands made their way into his hair and she tugged at the ends causing a moan to exit him. The sound was pure ecstasy to her ear.
Seto felt Anzu unbuttoning his jeans and he helped her kicked them aside. He then proceeded to kiss her neck once more. Anzu moaned as he lowered himself to her chest and took one of her breasts into his mouth, promptly sucking and kissing. The moans coming from Anzu only tightened Seto's bulge and he craved to hear more.
He continued lowering himself, reaching her stomach and leaving heavy kisses in his wake. Anzu's body lurched upward with every touch, every kiss. She could not describe the sentiments of euphoria she was feeling now from Seto's touch. She wanted to die into it, feeling her life had led all the way to this point.
Seto continued his way down until he reached her naval. He kissed around it allowing more moans and hisses to leave Anzu's lips.
"Seto." She whispered creating more pleasure to escape from him.
He then allowed himself to touch Anzu's labia allowing his hands to immerse themselves into her moisture. Anzu lurched forward grabbing at the ends of the bedsheets looking for some relief.
Seto smiled at her reaction and continued his motions. Anzu hissed and moaned until he stopped. She looked up confused and it was then she felt the hard mass enter her. She groaned at the size and gradually eased into in. Seto too groaned and began to move inside her.
Both moaned in unison as the contact of such sensitive muscles interloped and touched. Anzu felt Seto start to move faster and the burning feeling that hard started in her toes began to move to her spine and down to her naval. She needed release, she craved it as she scratched at Seto's back. Seto's excursions only increased as they both said one others name as though speaking a religious chant. Each one mixed with the other not knowing who was who. In that moment they were one as Anzu let out a moan and Seto groaned with pleasure. Their release brought along the euphoric feeling no drug could ever match and Seto moved off of her.
They lay in each other's arm, in skin and sweat, none saying a word as their heartbeats intermingled where words could not. Sex was nothing new to their relationship, but it was never like this. Nothing was like this.